Asia

The International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) that falls on the second Saturday of the month of May was celebrated in Jaffna on 9th May 2015, with the support of Mangroves for the Future (MFF) programme managed by IUCN in Sri Lanka. One hundred school children from all five Northern Province districts gathered in Jaffna, for a three day period, to celebrate the IMBD. …

Great news from Cambodia, one of the four countries where the Turtle Survival Alliance and its partners are implementing an SOS-funded project to help protect and conserve the South East Asian Terrapins. The Cambodian component of the project, carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration announced the release of 21 captive-raised southern river terrapins (Batagur affinis) back into their native habitat in southwest Cambodia. …

Jeju, South Korea – The first World Leaders’ Conservation Forum held here (7-9 July) underscored the critical role of nature conservation in peace building and sustainable development. It called for bold leadership at the global and local levels to stop the devastating loss of biodiversity taking place today. …

IUCN-HSBC project on Ecological Restoration of the Kapiriggama Cascade Tank System in Anuradhapura, North Central Province is aiming to improve the water use efficiency in ancient tank systems. These tank systems that are linked (a cascade) allow recycling of water multiple times as irrigation water. Project components include, improving the capacity of the tanks through partial de-siltation, adopting organic farming, improving drainage conditions, protecting tank bunds and adjacent areas and building the capacity of farmers and officers.

This week, as the world’s first ever Pangolin Range States workshop takes place in Da Nang Province, Vietnam, SOS and Fondation Segré are delighted to announce a two-year international Pangolin Conservation Initiative taking place in Cameroon, Thailand and China. …

The Thondamanaru Lagoon is a brackish water body. During the rainy season it covers an area of approximately 30 sq km with an average dept of 1.5 meters. In 1953, the Irrigation Department established a barrage with sluice gates about 0.4 km from the mouth of the lagoon. …

After a successful first call for proposals in October last year, IUCN's Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) is now calling for a second round of proposals from eligible applicants. …

According to the United Nations, World Oceans Day is about a healthy planet being based on healthy oceans – so true and in so many ways! The ecological pressures on Earth’s oceans are as diverse and daunting as the storms that can roll across its blue horizons. But there is hope rolling in the deep! Days like today can catalyse, unite and promote efforts to save these, our blue lungs, from ourselves. …